2010 Student Scholarship & Award Winners

Junior Achievement of Chicago, the top provider of economic education programs for Chicago-area youth, held its 2010 Scholarship Recipient Award Presentation on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at the Union League Club in Chicago. JA Chicago's scholarships celebrate the importance of supporting education and pursuing one's dreams. This year, $95,500 in scholarships and awards were presented to 22 outstanding high school students.

Each of the scholarship winners has participated in various Junior Achievement programs, which reinforce the connection between continuing one's education and adulthood success. High school students who have participated in JA are more likely to believe that they will graduate from high school, pursue postsecondary education, and graduate from college as compared to students in general (78% versus 56%). Overall, JA programs enhance regular classroom curriculum with vital economic education and work readiness programs, giving graduates an edge in the world of work - 92 percent of JA alumni agree that being a JA student positively affected their future.

The top award - the Colonel Henry Crown Scholarship - provides $20,000 over the course of four years at an accredited college and includes a paid summer internship at a Henry Crown affiliated company. Scholarships were presented by Richard Robb, Vice President of Henry Crown and Company, to the following recipients:
• Alexander Anton of Streamwood High School, who plans to attend University of Illinois at Springfield.
• Gregory Brookins of Homewood-Flossmor High School, who plans to attend Grinnell College.
• Isabel Garcia of Joliet Central High School, who plans to attend Pomona College.
• Svyatoslav Nakonechny of East Leyden High School, who plans to attend Northwestern University.

The Perlstein Foundation Scholarship of $2,500 was presented to Elizabeth Egan of Oak Lawn High School.

The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation sponsored four scholarships in total:
• Jesus Anaya of Thomas Kelly High School - $2,000
• Evelyn Banos of Whitney Young High School - $1,000
• Kelis King of Thornton Township High School - $1,000
• Sarah Tirado of Carl Schurz High School - $1,000

Other scholarship recipients were:
• Sarah Bahou of Naperville Central High School - Family of John W. Rogers scholarship for $1,000
• Kimberly Koschnitzky of Oak Forest High School - Family of John W. Rogers scholarship for $1,000
• Sarah Andrews of Lemont High School - 16th Annual Alvin Cohn Scholarship Award for $2,000
• Lizbeth Delgado of Kelvyn Park High School - The "Friends of Alvin Cohn" Scholarship Award for $1,000
• Kaitlyn Kuhl of Deerfield High School - HSBC - North America scholarship for $1,000
• Martiara Williams of Thornton Fractional South High School - HSBC - North America scholarship for $1,000
• Crystal Payne of Thornridge High School - Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP scholarship for $1,000

Awards were also given to "Officer of the Year" and "Company of the Year" winners. These awards were presented to students participating in JA's Company Program. Through JA's Company Program, students organize and operate an actual business enterprise and elect officers to serve in leadership roles for their companies. "Officer of the Year" winners include:
• Matt Obergfell of Naperville Central High School - President of the Year
• Nicole George of Naperville Central High School - V.P. of Finance of the Year
• James O'Shaughnessy of Naperville North High School - V.P. of HR of the Year
• Addison Termunde of Naperville North High School - V.P. of Marketing of the Year
• Ryan McGrail of Naperville North High School - V.P. of Production of the Year
• Trenton Jackson of Lake County High School Tech Campus - Sales Person of the Year

The 2010 "Company of the Year" award was presented to "Kettle Corn Krew" - a student run company from Naperville North High School. Kettle Corn Krew was focused on selling kettle corn, as well as the juice drink, Mondos. After consulting with a popcorn specialty shop in downtown Naperville, the students created their own unique kettle corn recipe. Kettle corn was popped continuously during selling periods to ensure the freshest quality of product, which was sold to students and staff at Naperville North High School. Ben Aymond, President and CEO of the student run Kettle Corn Krew, accepted the prestigious award.

Additionally, we would also like to recognize a partnership that took place this year involving Banco Popular, Robert Morris College and Junior Achievement of Chicago. The partnership involved a donation from the Banco Popular foundation to support JA programs in the City and South Suburbs where Robert Morris College students served as volunteers to mentor and teach the JA curriculum. A portion of this donation was allocated to Robert Morris students for scholarship opportunities.

Congratulations to all winners!